Singapore

Known as the ‘Switzerland of Asia’, Singapore offers some of the best, and cheapest, food in the world, along with premier infrastructure, shopping and entertainment. It is renowned for its cleanliness and order and has become a top destination for international tourists.

Located in south-east Asia at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula, the Port of Singapore is one of the busiest in the world. The port dates back to 1891 when Briton Sir Stamford Raffles used it as a trading post on the International Spice Route.

These days the port is home to a premier terminal for cruise passengers. Set across 28,000 square metres, the terminal offers modern facilities, direct access to the city and close proximity to the airport. With a natural deep-water harbour and no height restrictions the port can accommodate the world’s largest ships.

Port Location

Your ship will dock at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS), located at the southern tip of the city. The terminal is located 20 minutes’ drive from the International Airport and 3 kilometres from downtown Singapore. Shops, hotels and restaurants can be easily accessed by taxi and public transport.

Port Facilities

The Port of Singapore is ranked as the world’s second-busiest port after Shanghai. In addition to a high volume of cargo trade, the port welcomes more than 1 million cruise passengers every year.

Facilities include:

complimentary Wi-Fi in the terminal

CruiseFly Counter to check in for your connecting flight

GST Refund Counter to claim back tax

parking at the Harbour Front Centre

convenience store.

This natural port allows you to sail straight into the city, so you can immerse yourself in this thriving cultural, entertainment and business hub as soon as you step off the gangway.

How to Get Around

The terminal encompasses a large ground transportation area (GTA), which features taxi ranks and transfer services. The closest Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station is the Harbour Front Station located on the North East Line. The terminal is a 5-minute walk (or short free shuttle bus ride) from the station.

The MRT is the fastest and most efficient way to get around Singapore. It is safe, clean and air-conditioned and there is signage in English. The city runs an extensive and affordable metropolitan bus service, with fares differing for air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses.

A Singapore Tourist Pass will give you unlimited all-day access to the MTR, LTR and basic bus services for around A$10 for 1 day, A$16 for 2 days and A$20 for 3 days.

Singapore has more than 15,000 taxis in operation across 5 companies; from the Comfort City Cabs which run older cars with lower fares, to the SMRT Taxis that use luxury cars and charge a higher fare. All 5 companies operate based on a metered fare.

Time Zone - Singapore uses Singapore Time (SGT), which is 8 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Weather - located just north of the equator, Singapore experiences a hot and humid climate with abundant rainfall. The average temperature is 31° Celsius during the day and 23° Celsius at night. There is little seasonal variation in temperature, although December and January are slightly cooler and April and May are slightly warmer.

Highlights

Singapore Shopping - easily accessible by the MRT, Orchard Road is famous as one of Singapore’s top shopping destinations. Hotspots are TANGS department store and Kinokuniya, Singapore’s largest bookstore, which stocks around 500,000 titles. Other popular shopping centres include the ION Orchard, Wisma Atria and Ngee Ann City.

Sentosa Island - located just 500 metres off the south coast of Singapore, Sentosa Island is easily accessible by ferry and is one of Singapore’s most popular attractions. Having undergone a recent transformation, Sentosa Island is now home to Singapore’s Universal Studios theme park and a modern casino.

Colonial District - nestled between Boat Quay and the Raffles City shopping and hotel complex, Singapore's colonial district is charming. Historic buildings here tell the story of the city’s British past. Don’t miss Old Parliament House, the Fullerton Hotel (which used to be the General Post Office) and Saint Andrew's Cathedral.

Singapore Botanic Gardens - established in 1859 as a leisure garden, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring a boardwalk through rainforest, more than 10,000 types of plants and historic trees, and the National Orchid Garden, which displays more than 1,000 orchid species and 2,000 hybrids.